By Andrew Sellers, Ph.D. and Rebekah L. T. Sellers, J.D.
Introduction
Whether on television or in film, popular portrayals of sports agents highlight the glamour rather than the routine tasks or qualifications required for the profession. On paper, few formal qualifications exist, as most player associations only require a bachelor’s degree (Ede, 2022). Yet, because the work involves contracts and negotiations, law degrees are common among agents (Ede, 2022). Despite the prevalence of Juris Doctorates (J.D.) among sports agents, little research has examined how educational backgrounds are associated with sports agent certification. A limited understanding of how sports and legal education intersect affects career preparation (Thompson, 2010). This study examines the relationship between sports and legal education and sports agent certification.
Research Overview
The study examines how educational background is associated with sports agent certification across various professional leagues. Because agent certification is granted on a league-by-league basis (Masteralexis et al., 2013), the research considers league-specific outcomes. Understanding how academic pathways align with agent certification provides insights into agent preparation for law schools, sports management programs, and player associations.
Method
The survey was distributed to the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) and the Sports Lawyers Association (SLA), with additional solicitation to agents listed in professional players’ association directories. Sixty-four agents responded, yielding fifty-seven usable responses (n = 57). The responses were analyzed by using crosstabs and logistic regression to examine associations between educational background and league-specific agent certification.
Results
The crosstab analysis indicated that having a J.D. was significantly associated with National Football League Players’ Association (NFLPA) agent certification. Approximately two-thirds of the NFL agents sampled held a J.D., compared with fewer than 25% of non-NFL agents. All Major League Baseball Players’ Association (MLBPA) and Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) agents from the sample reported taking an undergraduate sports-related class, compared to less than 40% from other leagues. Graduate-level sports management courses did not show significant association with agent certification in the sampled leagues.
Logistic regression analysis indicated that sports agents with a J.D. were more than three times as likely to be NFLPA certified as those without a J.D. (OR = 3.22, p = .02). Regression estimates could not be calculated for MLBPA and PGA agents taking undergraduate sports classes, because all agents in those groups reported taking at least one of these courses.
Discussion
The research suggests that taking sports-related coursework and legal education plays a role in entry into the sports agent profession, particularly within the NFL. Under current agent certification requirements, anyone without significant negotiation experience must meet specific educational thresholds, including a bachelor’s degree and a post-graduate degree, to become a certified NFLPA agent or MLBPA Expert Agent Advisor (National Football League Players Association, 2023; Major League Baseball Players Association, 2023). Given that three-quarters (74.9%) of all undergraduate sports management programs and over two-thirds (70%) of graduate sports management programs in the country require at least one sports law class (Miller et al., 2023; Pierce et al., 2023), the prevalence of law degrees among agents, especially NFLPA-certified agents, may reflect a broader educational standard.
The findings suggest several potential implications for undergraduate sports management programs and law schools. First, sports management programs may benefit from preparing their students academically for post-graduate programs, particularly law school. Second, law schools may want to consider making greater outreach to students in undergraduate sports management programs. As demand for athlete representation increases, due in part to new Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) updates, sports agency may increasingly be viewed as a viable career path instead of a niche profession. Likewise, the skills needed to be a competent sports agent need not be reserved for a handful of specialty institutions or programs.
In that vein, it is useful to contemplate how the current law school curriculum can help prepare future sports agents. Sports agents work heavily in contracts and agency law. Contracts is generally a first-year (1L), six-credit required course, while agency is often offered as an elective in the second (2L) or third (3L) year of law school. Some law schools also offer electives in negotiation and alternative dispute resolution, which are relevant to a career in sports agency.
But what other law school courses could help prepare future sports agents? Miller et al. (2023) highlight the importance of addressing shifts in the profession to avoid industry stagnation. The American Bar Association (ABA), the NFLPA, and the MLBPA all have professional competency requirements (American Bar Association, 2025; National Football League Players Association, 2023; Major League Baseball Players Association, 2023). Beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, law schools must develop and publish their own learning outcomes designed to achieve the objective of preparing graduates for “admission to the bar and for effective, ethical, and responsible participation as members of the legal profession” (American Bar Association, 2025, para. 2). These standards share a similar goal: preparing professionals to provide competent and ethical representation. So, it is beneficial to look beyond the standard courses to build the competency of the sports agent.
To that end, law schools are well-suited to incorporate training on emerging issues into the future sports agent’s curriculum. These include intellectual property, in terms of NIL contracts, fan engagement through social media, and AI-generated content (Brand et al., 2024); immigration and international law, where players from other countries seek to compete in the U.S. (Nafziger, 2021). Training in these areas can improve an agent’s effectiveness in issue spotting and troubleshooting in the player’s best interests.
Finally, the impact of experiential learning at all stages of education cannot be overstated. Ede (2022) notes the importance of work-based learning in undergraduate and graduate sports management programs, and the ABA is considering expanding its clinical education requirement from six to twelve credit hours in the 2026-2027 academic year (Hill, 2025). Currently, “an experiential course must be a simulation course, a law clinic, or a field placement, as defined in Standard 304” (American Bar Association, 2025, p. 22). Under ABA Standard 303(a)(3), law schools must provide “substantial opportunities for: (1) law clinics or field placement(s); (2) student participation in pro bono legal services, including law-related public service activities; and (3) the development of a professional identity” (American Bar Association, 2025, pp. 22 – 23). While the goal of law schools must be to prepare a lawyer for admission to the bar (American Bar Association, 2025), numerous legal careers do not involve courtroom appearances. Yet, most clinical opportunities emphasize trial or pretrial advocacy, rather than negotiations or alternative dispute resolution. As a settlement is not subject to appeal, it is usually the most effective outcome in a legal dispute. Strong negotiation skills are necessary to reach a beneficial settlement in law and sports agency. Thus, expanding negotiation training could help future sports agents develop professional skills that align with their careers.
Conclusion
The study found associations between educational background and league-specific agent certification. Holding a law degree was significantly associated with NFLPA agent certification, and all MLBPA and PGA certified agents in the sample reported taking an undergraduate sports-related course. Although the findings do not determine causation, they suggest that educational background in sports and law may play a role in sports agent certification. For legal education, the findings present an opportunity. As the role of the sports agent increasingly requires expertise in contract negotiation, labor law, intellectual property, and athlete representation, law schools can play a central role in preparing students for this career. Law programs may benefit from offering options like sports law clinics, experiential learning simulations, and interdisciplinary collaboration with graduate sports management programs.
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Author Biographies
Andrew Sellers, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Grand Valley State University. His research focuses on sports employment, sports law, and sports business.
Rebekah L. T. Sellers, J.D., works in legal research with the Michigan Judicial Institute and serves as an adjunct professor at Wayne State University Law School. Her work focuses on legal education, professional ethics and responsibility, and the development of undergraduate law curricula.
